Small led the Stingers to their first-ever CEBL championship in 2020.
EDMONTON, AB – The Edmonton Stingers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced on Wednesday that the organization has re-signed Head Coach and General Manager, Jermaine Small, for the 2021 Season. In Small’s first full season at the helm, he led the team to a CEBL Championship; winning the CEBL Summer Series with a 7-1 record while also claiming the honor of the 2020 CEBL Coach of the Year.
“It is a great day when you can bring back a winner like Jermaine to lead your team,” said Stingers President, Brett Fraser. “Through the first two seasons, it has become clear that he is determined on building a legacy of champions for the region.”
Small took over as Head Coach and General Manager from Barnaby Craddock eight games into the 2019 Inaugural Season. The team had a record of 4-4 at the time, but promptly went on to win nine consecutive games (a league record), before finishing second place with a 14-6 record in the regular season. While the team fell short of a championship in 2019, Small and the Stingers achieved redemption by winning the championship in 2020.
During the CEBL Summer Series, The Stingers lost their first game to the Fraser Valley Bandits before completing six victories in a row and then beating them in the championship finals with a final score of 90-73. The success in the CEBL Summer Series, combined with a stellar 2019 season, makes Small the winningest head coach in CEBL history. He currently has a record of 17-4 with the Stingers.
“First & foremost I’m extremely excited to return and continue building on our success,” said Stingers Head Coach and General Manager, Jermaine Small. “Thank you Edmonton for truly embracing me and becoming home for me. This is only the beginning and I can’t wait to run it back and defend our championship come Summer, 2021.”
“Having worked closely with Jermaine throughout the Inaugural Season and the Summer Series, I am confident that he is the right person to lead our team to a dynasty,” said Vice President of Operations, Andreas Morse. “The relationships he has built with our players and the culture he has created will solidify the Stingers as a favourite in the CEBL. I look forward to building this team alongside Jermaine.”
The CEBL is preparing for its third season in 2021, following the success of the 2020 CEBL Summer Series in St. Catharines, Ontario; which saw a record 1.2 million viewers across Canada tune in to four days of live programming on CBC.
About The Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL)
A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 80% of its current rosters being Canadians. Players come from the NBA G-League, top international leagues, the Canadian National Team program, and top NCAA programs as well as from U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season typically runs from May through August. More information is available at www.cebl.ca